Friday, November 14, 2014

HONORING THE LIFE OF THE MASTER:

A Program for the Observance of

the Ascension of 'Abdu'l-Bahá

This program to observe the anniversary of the Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá is designed to be uplifting and inspiring, providing an appreciation of the life and station of the Master. The steps below are meant as a guide and can be modified to meet your community’s needs. With a little effort and a lot of love you can create an experience your community will not soon forget.

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

A MEETING WITH THE MASTER

A Program for the Celebration

of the Day of the Covenant

This program to celebrate the Day of the Covenant is designed to be uplifting and inspiring, as if providing a glimpse into what it must have been like to be in the presence of the Master. We have included two program outlines for you to choose from. The first is between 30-45 minutes in length and the second is for a 60 minute program. The steps below are meant as a guide and can be modified to meet your community’s needs. With a little effort and a lot of love you can create an experience your community will not soon forget.

Friday, November 7, 2014

Exciting news! See message below. We can't wait to go see the Clifton Guest House apartment in Bristol.

'Abdu'l-Bahá on balcony,Clifton Guest House

_______

National Spiritual Assembly

5 November 2014

To the Bahá’ís of the United Kingdom

Dearly loved Friends,

On two occasions ‘Abdu’l-Bahá visited the City of Bristol: once for three days in September 1911 and again for one day in January 1913.On both occasions he stayed at the Clifton Guest House on Royal York Terrace where he was hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Tudor-Pole. Built on elevated ground, the guest house overlooks a valley in which the early city of Bristol was built. Although visiting on the first occasion to gain some rest from His arduous travels and extensive engagements in London, whilst in the guest house ‘Abdu’l-Bahá took the time to address large gatherings, meet individuals and groups of friends, shower His tender love upon children, dine with close companions, cheer and advise the staff, give interviews to newspaper reporters and devote time to His extensive daily correspondence. In an account written by Mr. Tudor-Pole we read that the “Master went all over Guest House blessing and dedicating each room to the service of Bahá’u’lláh and promising that the house would become a centre of peace and rest for pilgrims from East and West.” The property is now entirely residential and has been divided into a number of apartments.

How extraordinary it is to consider that the Master—He whom Shoghi Effendi reminds us as being “the Centre and Pivot of Bahá’u’lláh’s peerless and all-enfolding Covenant, His most exalted handiwork, the stainless Mirror of His light, the perfect Exemplar of His teachings, the unerring Interpreter of His Word, the embodiment of every Bahá’í ideal, the incarnation of every Bahá’í virtue, the Most Mighty Branch sprung from the Ancient Root, the Limb of the Law of God, the Being “round Whom all names revolve,” the Mainspring of the Oneness of Humanity, the Ensign of the Most Great Peace, the Moon of the Central Orb of this most holy Dispensation” – twice visited and stayed in this blessed and sacred place. It is thus with untold joy and excitement that the National Spiritual Assembly is pleased to inform you that on behalf of the Bahá’í community it has purchased one of the apartments within the former Clifton Guest House.

It is the intention of the National Assembly to work towards opening the property for visitors. On hearing the news of the final purchase, the Universal House of Justice, in a letter dated 31 October 2014, conveyed that it was pleased to learn of the purchase of the property and that the National Assembly’s “intention to carry out renovation work, so that the former guest house can be brought closer in appearance to its condition at the time when ‘Abdu’l-Bahá visited it, is entirely appropriate”. This will require historical records to be researched and, in light of the information gleaned, the property will be restored to its former condition to the extent possible.

Enclosed with this email letter is a photograph of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá standing on a balcony on the first floor of Clifton Guest House. It is the apartment associated with this balcony that has been purchased.

Given that this apartment is one of many in the building, sensitivity is required in regard to both viewing premises now and visiting it in the future when it is open for this purpose, and we are sure that you will bear this in mind.

We know that you will join us in giving thanks to Bahá’u’lláh for this stupendous and sacred gift which He has chosen to confer upon this already blessed community at this moment in its history. Ours is now the duty to prepare this precious place for future generations of visitors from east and west who will flow to it and draw upon its hallowed spirit of tranquillity and peace to inspire them in their building of His world embracing civilisation.

Monday, November 3, 2014

We hope to be doing a program/screening in the DV area, soon! Also, in honor of the two Holy Days associated with 'Abdu'l-Bahá in November, we have lowered our prices for our DVD (now $20) and Blu-ray DVD (now $25). See "Order" at www.LuminousJourney.org

Also, if anyone wishes to arrange for a quantity discount, let us know! (You can send us a message under the website.)

Programs for Day of the Covenant and Ascension of 'Abdu'l-Bahá

For FREE PDF files, see https://9starmedia.com/luminous-journey-movie

Who was `Abdu'l-Bahá, and why did He come to the West?

From 1911 to 1913, `Abdu'l-Bahá, son of Bahá'u'lláh, Founder of the Bahá'i Faith, also known as "The Master," travelled in Europe and America after living much of His life in exile and as a prisoner. He was elderly and in frail health, yet amazed thousands of people with his penetrating talks and views. This blog provides but a glimpse. . . .

Note: One primary source I am using is The Diary of Mirza Mahmud-i-Zarqani Chronicling `Abdu'l-Bahá's Journey to America. I refer simply to Mahmud when referencing this work and bold words and phrases that seem especially important. I often omit photo credits, accent marks, and paragraph punctuation when quoting, in the interest of posting reflections daily. Editing and refinement will be needed if this material evolves to a publishable phase. Anne Perry

About Me

has a PhD in Aesthetic Studies /Humanities and teaches at the Art Institute of Dallas. A Baha'i since 1971, she is most passionate about the subjects of Ridvan, the arts, the celebration of the Twin Anniversaries of the Báb and Bahá'u'lláh, 'Abdu'l-Bahá, Sarah Farmer, and Green Acre. With her husband, Tim Perry, she created a film about Abdu'l-Baha in America, "Luminous Journey."